Which rule do you live by from the bible?

Question

The bible has two quotes that contridict themselves. The old testement says turn the other cheek and the new says an eye for an eye. Which do you live by and why?

OK I stand corrected the old testement says an eye for an eye. The new says turn the other cheek...still which rule do you live by?

Answer 1

In my own understanding: " Drive Your Kar ma, Curb Your Dog MA."
That us how I try to live my life.

You got them in reverse. The old testament, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. The translation has been inaccurately translate. What it means is the punishment should not exceed the crime, it should be equal not more. hence an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
The second testament is to turn the other cheek, to forgive each others, and show mercy. If you want your God, the Almighty to forgive you for your sin, then you ought to forgive others for theirs'. How do you expect God to forgive you if you are not willing to forgive others.
Those are not contradictions. The first testament is before Jesus Christ, which is the same as the Torah that is for the Jewish people, and the second testament is in Jesus time, and that is for the Christians. Jesus taught other to love one another, and to forgive those who wrong you.

Answer 2

You don't quote chapter and verse so it's difficult to put these into context without spending some time looking them up. But as I recall, the "eye for an eye" passage has to do with dealing with someone once you've reached the place of judgement (court) and the "turn the other cheek" is something you do to avoid going to the place of judgement. After all, in today's modern society, even the criminals have rights in a court of law. If you smack someone who's broken into your house over the head with a baseball bat, he can sue you!

The best rule to live by is "live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature" because "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." (see Galatians 5).

Answer 3

You can't pull a verse from here and then from there. You get a distorted view of what was written. That is how many false religions get started. You have to read the verses above and below to understand the message conveyed in each spot.
In the OT, the Israelites were being given the law and how justice would be met because there was no judicial system. In the NT, Jesus is addressing how an individual should act when mistreated (forgiveness).
I live by the law of the land if it does not contradict the Bible and I seek to strive to keep the law as much as I can. But no man can- God gave the law to show us that we as humans couldn't live up to the standard and that we needed a Savior, Jesus Christ.

Answer 4

The eye for an eye was designed so that noone could demand more than what was taken from him. It doesn't mean we have to get an eye for an eye. There were cities of refuge where one could go to in the old days, where a man could be questioned, and be protected if a death was accidental, but family wanted
blood anyway.
Christ said if someone SLAPS you. Turn to him the other cheek
also. He didn't say lay down and let somebody knock all the
teeth out of your mouth because he doesn't like the way you
look. We have a god-given mind that can reason these things,
once we stop acting silly over mans self-righteous interpretations of things.

Answer 5

actually you have that backwards. The old testament says an eye for an eye and the new testament says to turn the other cheek. I live by this Jesus said we should turn the other cheek but he never said what to do once the other cheek was also slapped.

Answer 6

the new testament is correct.
in the old testament, it doesn't say an eye for an eye...
it says vengence is the lords.
doesn't say pay back wrong/evil for evil.
god says when someone wrongs u, forgive them & turn the other cheek.
god will take care of the ones that hurt his children. it also states: beware to those that cause my children to stumble.
so, I live by turn the other cheek. i don't get even with those that have done me wrong. god says to forgive 70 x's 7. meaning forever.
if we don't forgive those that have wronged us, my father up in heaven won't forgive us.

Answer 7

Two different meanings, If your persecuted for the truth turn the other cheek, and the other is punishment for sinners (an eye for An eye).

Answer 8

Jesus on the sermon of the mount quoted the Old Testament. He said, "you have heard it said that an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth; but I say to you, do not resist the evil man who injures you, but if any strikes you on the right jaw or cheek turn to him the other one, too".

Jesus taught not to return evil for evil; Jesus is who I follow.

Answer 9

You got it backwards, but as was said in Fiddler on the Roof - "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth will leave us all blind and toothless".

Go with the "turn the other cheek"

Answer 10

It's actually the other way around. The N.T. says "Turn the other cheek."

I live by the New, since Jesus said that he came not to destroy the old law but bring the law to life.

This means that before Christ saved humankind, God had given humankind laws to follow. And God was "expecting" that humans follow the laws using their own resources. It turned out that humans failed, and failed, and failed again...and it became clear that humankind needing saving. God sent the Savior. The Savior did not destroy the law, but gave people a way to live by it other than dead obedience. He provided a way for the law to come to life in the human heart.